A COLLEGE application week is dedicated to helping students apply for colleges. The state of Utah sets aside this week for students to apply to colleges without any application fees. At most high schools, colleges set up tables in the commons so interested students can gather information. However, at Granger High, college advisors and counselors visit every 12th-grade English classroom to assist seniors in applying to colleges.

College advisors help seniors through a designated website where they can follow step-by-step instructions to apply to colleges and check their transcripts. Generally, students only need to submit their transcript, which is a record of their classes and grades over the past four years.

From there, the application website guides students through questions to collect details that help colleges assess their goals and scholarship eligibility. For instance, the University of Utah’s application asks questions like whether a student is a native of America or a first-generation college applicant. Colleges use this information to determine if students qualify for additional scholarships. To further support students, college representatives visited Granger High to discuss their institutions. Salt Lake Community College, for example, provided insights about tuition, programs, and other aspects of their offerings. Universities like the University of Utah, Utah Tech, Salt Lake Community College, Weber State, UVU, Westminster, Stanford, and NNU also came to share information.

Ms. Andy Ramirez, Granger High’s college access advisor, said applying to college can be intimidating. She recalls applying on her own without the guidance of a college application week or school support. Reflecting on her experience, she believes college application week offers a valuable opportunity.

Ramirez says it’s helpful for students to have teachers and counselors available to answer questions. She also finds it beneficial that students can work on applications during school, as some may not want to tackle it at home.

For those interested in applying, Ramirez suggests visiting the admitutah.org website. There, students can explore colleges that fit their GPA, consider their career interests, and get matched with universities that meet their qualifications. The website then directs students to college applications.